Astros rotation evaluation: Verlander’s gem leads the way

Nine games into the 2022 season, the Houston Astros‘ rotation has shown both strengths and weaknesses. Four of the five starters — Framber Valdez, Jake Odorizzi, Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy —  have two starts apiece, while Luis Garcia has one.

It also looks like the rotation the Astros will stay with at least for one more time through.

Team Averages – Pitches/Start: 76 | Strike %: 63.4 | Pitches per out: 5.2 | Game Score: 53

Verlander worked two solid starts, while the others have been a bit up and down, or in the case of Jake Odorizzi, mostly down. Some of my colleagues and readers may believe I feel a certain satisfaction in Odorizzi’s struggles. That’s simply not true — I’d rather the Astros win, and I be wrong, than vice versa.

Here’s a look at the rotation, two starts in, except for Garcia, the good, the bad and the ugly. For Garcia’s numbers, those provided are two-start averages.